Nut-cracking machine



.June3,193o. y wGEBHARb-f 1,761,823

NUT CRACKING MACHINE Filed April 11, 192s 4 sh'eets-sheet 1 INVENTOR GEMM@ 'f ATTORNEYS JW@ @Qa/M June 3, 1930. w GEBHARDT 1,761,823

NUT CRACKING MACHINE Filed April 1l, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllrllh Ilm@ INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS June 3; 1930. w, GEBH-ARDT 1,761,823

NUT CRACKING MACHINE Filed April 11. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 G'card, NVENTOR/ TTORNEYS June 3, 1930. w. GEBHARDT NUT CRACKING MACHINE Filed April l1, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm www ATTORNEYS V- Patented YJune 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAMGEBIIARDT, or SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AssIaNon` To G. A. IJUERLER MANU- V:F.uAoTURINe COMPANY, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, A GORPORATION OF TEXAS NUT-CRAOKING MACHINE Application ilcd April 11,

This invention relates to nut cracking machines and aims, among other objects, to provide animproved automatic machine of the rotary drum o`r carrier type capable of 'being driven at relatively high speeds and having improved Operating mechanism associatedwith the yplungers to insure proper gripping of thenuts with uniform pressure before they are fractured so that a greater lo percentage of good halves which command the highest market prices, will be produced.

Referring to the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation, of a machine emf bodyingn the improvements;

. VFig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, parts being shown 2o broken away andV parts being shown in elevation; Y j i Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. l, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in Section;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view: taken on lthe line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and

f Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. VReferring particularly to the drawings,

there is shown a machine which embodies `many of the features shown in my prior Patent No. 1,133,121, granted March 23, 1915, .wherein a rotatable drum has nut receiving pockets for opposed pairs of nut cracking plungers adapted to be operated by cams and gearing. The improvements herein Shown relate largelyto the mechanism for controlling the operation of the plungers to produce perfectly cracked nuts when the 4,0 machine is operated at a much greater speed.

In the present instance, there is shown herein a base 10 on the opposite ends of which are mounted supports orfstandards 11 carrying a stationary shaft y12 on which the nut cracking mechanism is rotatably mounted. On the shaft 12 is a nut carrier or drum 13 adapted to be rotated by means of an integral gear 14 meshing with a driving pinion 15 (see Figs. 1 and 2). In the periphery of the 'drum 13, which is con- 1928. Serial No. 269,175.

fined to rotate between a stationary ycollar 16 and a shoulder 17 on the stationary shaft there is shown a plurality of transverse nut receiving pockets 18 having slotted bronze bushings 19 therein within which pairs of cracking plungers 20 and 21 are adapted to be reciprocated by means `later to be described. The mechanism thus far described is much the Same as that shown in my prior patent and, hence, does not require detailed description.

The nut cracking plungers 20 and 21 of which there may be any number depending upon the desired capacity of the machine,

are adapted to be rotated with the drum and function ,iirst to grip the individual nuts supplied to the pockets, second, to fracture them and, third,',to eject them from the pockets. Herein, the plungers 2O are substantially tubular throughout a greater portion of their length and are mounted to reciprocate within vopenings through the gear 14 alignedwith the respective bushings 19.

The outer ends of these plungers contact with 'a substantially ring-Shaped cam inember 22, similar to that shown in my prior patent, to' control the movements of the cracking plungers. Between the side face of the drum 13 and a shoulder 23 on each plunger, is a compression spring 24 normally to hold'the plunger in engagement with the cam. Within the plunger is an ejector pin 525 projecting through the outer end of the plunger into a slot or groove 26 in the cam ring. This pin has a stop pin in 27 within the tubular portion of the plunger 20 and is shown as having a reduced endv portion extending into a central opening in the hammer end. Between the hammer end of the plunger which is preferably screw threaded into the -tube and the shoulder on the ejector pin is a small compression spring 28 adapted` to hold it normally retracted as shown in Fig. 1.

' Cooperating with `the cracking plungers 2O is a grooved cracking wheel 29 adapted to be adjusted on a Screw threaded stud 30 on which is mounted an eccentric bushing 31 and this bushing has a pin 82, the arrange ment being such that the cracking wheel Ythe cracking or hammer plungers.

adjustment is made by holding the pin 32 in Y Ycan be adjusted and locked by means of a locking sleevenut 33 on the threaded end of the stud thereby adjusting the stroke of This a certainV position, While tightening the sleeve nut 33 with a wrench. The angular position of the pin indicates at a glancek the amount of crack given. If desired a theejector pins Will ybe pushed through thek central openings Vin the hammer yfaces to ejectthe cracked nuts and cause `the nuts to fall out ofthe machine at the bottom v(see Fig. 1). If however, the plungers should become clogged with nut shells, they will. vbe positively retracted by van .auxiliary `retracting cam y34 attached vto the face of the bracket, Vshown at the right in Figs. land2, which has a plunger engageable with. cam grooves 35 adjacent to the ends of the plungers. v, The plungers 21 which will be referred to herein as the gripping and anvil plungers are .shown as vbeing jeurnaled to rotate and reciprocate in the opposite ends lof the bushings l9fa`nd in a web member 36 which also Vrotates With the drum i3.. In Fig. 1, each of these plungers .is shown-as comprising a tubularV shell 37 on Whichisvmounted an Yexternal screvv threaded sleeve 38 projecting through ythe opening in the web .member 36.v Within the tubular shell 37 'ismounted an ejectorY pin 39, which is adapted to yproject `through an opening kinthe anvil port-ion of the plungerwhen the plunger -isretracted as shown at the top of Fig. l. Thiskpin is shown as being'connected at its other endto a shaft/40 of larger'diameter Which extends .through theend of the shell `andis journaled in a second web member 4l .andy Which .is

milled as shown in Fig. l, providing a slid.

' able guide-Way or spline connection for the 'sleeve 38. Between thein'ner end of the shaft 40 and a fixed abutment 42 in the inner end of the plunger shell is an expansion spring 43 `normally urging, the *plunger to the Vright in Fig. l so that it Will engage the end of a nut fed in one of the pockets.

f To control `the movement of theV anvil plungers, there is shown av st-zuzionaryV cam V44 adapted to Vbe. secured 'to the-fixed shaft 12 and engageable with a flanged member 45 on the outer ends of each of the plungers;

This arrangement provides for withdrawing or retracting the plungers vat. the proper times .and releasing .them so that the anvils Willbe forced into engagement With the nuts after they arereceived in the pockets.

In Fig. l each .plunger is 'shown as havingy a Washer constituting a ring bumper 46 conveniently inserted in afgroove in the flange 45 about a reduced Yend of the sleeve 37. This bumper is adapted to break Yor cushion the blow VWhenthe anvil plunger strikes the Wall or face ofy the web. 36 infila To insure'that the nuts Will be gripped properly andwith a uniform pressure, thereY ,isv shownafseriesof latch dogs 47 (Fig. 4),

' one `foreach plunger, adapted to bek brought .into engagement With the threadedportions lrof the sleeve 38. Herein,'each Vof the dogs .is pivotally'mountedV intermediate its ends .on a pintleor pin 481 screw threaded into i y the Web member 36 andathel inner end contacts With'the face of afixedzcam 49 also yon the shaftV 1Q, Vthe arrangement being Ysuch that When thefantrfriction rollers Aengage the Ahigh part ofthe cam as `shown in Fig.

c4, the dogs yare, held outof engagement with uthe screw threaded sleeves 'and When the'Y lcam releases them they are snapped intoengagement or meshed With the threads, as

kshown at the left hand side of Fig. 4,.,by meansof vvire springs 5.0 Wound about the pins 47 and inserted in slots 5ly (Fig, 4). f f The outer ends ofthe shafts 40are`adaptedf `to be driven` by a friction clutch driving mechanism including. a curved rack ymember 52pivotedto theinner'face of the kleft hand supporting standard livv and arranged to mesh Withpinions 53v loosely lmounted on the ends of the shafts.- The clutch connection for each shaft' includes ai friction outer face of thrust collar-58 .to adjust or vary the compression of ,the spring disk;

The adjustment isvmadeso that the spring the proper or desired pressure. Allhen vthe spring ydisk 54 secured to the hub of the' v pinion `cooperating with .a vfiber Washer 55 loosely mounted on the end of the shaft and kcontacting VWith a metal Washerv x'ed on the shaft. The pinion 53'is` adapted' to be Vlocked ony the shaft by meansofa' castei lated nut"57 Whichcompresses it against fthel Vsleeve 38`is thus rotated, the corresponding .Y

latch dog Willbe engaged with the threaded end thereof and will afford anabutment for the plunger during the cracking operation.

lf the teethV on the rack member 52 should not engage or mesh properly With the teeth on the pinions 53 the rack Will be kicked in- Wardly against the compression of a coil spring 58 (Fig. 5)- seatedat'one'end in a Y pocketv59 in a fixed member (SO-secured'to the shaft 12 adjacent to the inner face of the standard ll and, atthe other lend, in an opening 6l in the free end of the rack. In Fig. 5, the: rack is shown ashaving an end f projection 62 adapted. to engage the stop ist lindrical sheet metal flange 66 secured to l pin 6`3ito hold they end of the rack in proper pinionV engaging position.4

All of the mechanism for operating the anvil plungers, just described, is preferably housed within a drum-like sectional casing 64to protect them` from the dust and other foreign matter.y Herein, referring to Fig. 1, the sections are shown as being connected to the webs 36 vand 41 and a iange 65 on the cracking drum. Also, there is shown a cythe inner face of the standard 11 to house the v clutch driving mechanism. To permit dusty to escape from the tubular plungers 2O yand '21 land thereby prevent them ,fromV becoming sluggish or clogged, they are shown in Fig. -1 as having holes bored through them adjacent to their inner ends so that the dust 4which works through the holes in the jaws can escape or be worked out by the movement of the v'ejecting pins and the plungers. Otherwise, the dust would accumulate and eventually forma pasty'mass by mixing with nut oil and lubricating oil4 and this would harden.

Inasmuch as the mechanism shown for 'feeding nuts to the machine has been made the subject of a separate copending application, it requires no detailed description. Also, .it is obvious that any suitable feeder ymay be used. However, I prefer to use a feed wheel 67 mounted on the drum and having detachable pick-up spoons 68 secured to its rim so arranged .Y within a sectional casing 69 that each spoon will pick up a single nut from the hopper 70 andfdeliver it at the Vproper time to a chute 71. The nuts .fall on bridge members 72 between the v .pockets'or sleeves'andy are made to lie perfectly within thepockets by a trap door or gate *71V and a loos'elyjournaled roller 74 associated4 with the rear `wall of the chute. Y yAs ysoon as each pocket 18, with a nut j therein passes under theL roller 74, a hammer plunger is pushed out to a position as shown in Fig. 1. A moment later ,an anvil plunger is ,released by its cam 44 andl is pressed inwardly by the spring 43 almost with a snap vaction ora blow initially to, grip the nut.

rIhe plunger shaft is now rotated by the rack and pinion driving mechanism throughthe clutch and after a few rotations during Awhich'the nut is properly centered, one of the latch dogs 47 is released by its cam 49 to engage the threads on the sleeve 38. Inasmuch as the jaws have teeth and the pointed ends `of pecans do not always Vfind the center of the jaws, this preliminary turning movement of the jaws before the dogs engage the threaded sleeves is very necessary in order to insure proper centering. Further rotation of the anvil plunger after the dog engages the threadedsleeve, advances the plunger positively until'the gripping pressure is suflicient to make the clutch slip.

lon the surface of the metal. washer.

That is to say, the ber washer will slip The pinion 53 will then run off the rack 52 and the plunger will stop rotating, being held gripped against the nut by the latch dog 47 until the hammer plunger 2O passes the cracking wheel or cam 29 and fractures the nut. Then the various described cams cooperate to retract the plungers so that the ejector pins function to dislodge the nut shells from the nut engaging faces, whereby they are 'ejected from the machine through a chute .in the base (Fig. 1). Thus, the cycle of operations is repeated.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that' this improved machine is capable of being driven at a relatively high speed; that the anvil plungers are adapted to grip the nuts with a uniform pressure which may be changed to suit the character of the nuts; that the stroke ofthe cracking or hammer plungers may be adjusted to give a uniform fracture so that more Aperfect halves are procured; and that the machine can be used for cracking nuts ofvdifferent L grades or sizes.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all of the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

What is claimed is.:

1. In a nut cracking machine of the rotary drum type, a plurality of coacting pairs of anvil and hammer plungers; means for actuating said plungers initially to grip the nuts; andan eccentrically mounted, adjustablecracking4 wheel in the paths of said hammer plungers to cause them to fracture the gripped nuts. f

2. In a nut cracking machine of the rotaryl drum type, a plurality yof icoacting pairs of anvil and hammer plungers; means for actuating said plungers initially to grip the nuts; an eccentric cracking wheel in the path of the ends of'said cracking plungers; and means to adjustvthe wheel whereby to vary the stroke of the plungers.

3. In a nut crackingmachine of the rota- .ry drum type, a plurality of coacting pairs ends of the hammer plungers; athreaded shaft carrying the cracking wheel; a bushing between the shaft and cracking wheel; a lock nut to hold the bushing in adjusted position; and a set screw rod for securing the bushing and wheel against rotation on iii Y, with the plungers to advance them and the shaft wherebyy the 'stroke of the hammer 'plungers may be varied..

4L. In a nut cracking machine of the rotary drum type, aplurality `of coacting pairs of anvil andi hammer plungers; means for actuating said plungers` initially to grip the nuts; an adjustably `mounted' cracking wheel in the path of the ends ofv theV cracking plungers; andV means to lock the wheel in adjusted positions.

5. In a nut cracking machine of the ro tary drum type, a plurality of coacting pairs of anvil and. hammer plungers meansv for actuating said plungers initially to griprthe nuts-and ythen to vcrack them `during the rotation of the drum springs normally to retract the hammer plungers; said hammer plungers having annular grooves near their outer ends; and an auxiliary cam engageable with the outer faces of` the grooves positively to retract the hammerplungers vwhen they areV choked and the springs fail to` function.

cluding friction clutches and periodicallyv driven screw means sovv arranged as togrip the nuts with uniform pressure.

8; In anut cracking machine..L of the ro tary drum type, coacting pairs ofk hammer and anvil plungers; and means for actuating ythe anvil plungers to grip the nuts including friction clutches land periodically driven screw means so arranged as to grip the nuts v with yuniform pressure, said .friction clutches fbeing adjustable lto vary the gripping pressure of the nuts.

` 9. In a nut cracking machine K of the rotary drum type, coacting pairs of hammer and anvil. plungers; means for rotating the anvil plungers including an arcuate rack;

-pinions rotatably mountedvon plunger.v drive shafts and engageable with the rack; friction driving means betweenthe pinions and said. plunger shafts; j and v screw4 means' associated the nuts with a uniform pressure.' f 'p 10. In a nut cracking'machineofxthe ro-' tary drum type, coacting pairs'of hammer and anvil plungers; means for .rotating the -anvil plungers Vincluding an arcuate rack;

pinions rotatably mounted on the plunger ldriveshafts and engageable with the'rack;

friction spring disks carried by the pinions; friction washers on the plungers Vdriving shafts and yieldably engaging said friction machine of vthe rof according tothe character disks; and-Iscrew`mea'ns associated' with the with a uni-form pressure. f

11. In a nutcracking machine ofthe roV i A tary drum type, coacting pairs.' of hammer i andl anvil plungers; said `anvil plungers be-v plungers to advance them andi grip the Ynuts *Y ing rotatable about their axesgshafts piojecting through the outerends thereofon which the plungers are `slidably Ybutl .non. rotatably mounted; pinions freely rotatable on the ends lof" said shaft; spring clutch Vdisks o n the pinions and friction clutchv j V elements Vi-Xed'l onthe 1shafts;'icastellated Y nuts engaging thepinions fork adjusting v in their rotation; screw threads on the 'ham-Y VV`Jthe clutch elements; an arcuate pivoted rack Y.

engageable with the pinions as theypass it j merplungers; latch dogs engageable with Y the screwy threads when the vplungers are being rotated to advance Vthe Vplungers and separate stationary cams for retracting the plungers and actuating the latch dogs in 1 proper timed relation. Y

i 12.l In a nut cracking machine of the ro'- tary drum type, coactingpairs ofhammer and anvil plungersg`means for rotating the pinions rotatably mounted on plunger drive shafts' andY engageable Awith the rack; lfric- ',tio'n driving. means between the pi-nionsand said plu'ngershafts; screw Ythreaded sleeves lon the pln'ngers; latch dogs engage/able with the sleeves; and ca m means forr actuating the latch dogs whereby theyr engage the screw threads to advance Vthe plungers and# Y cause Vthem to grip the *nuts with uniform pressure. j

13. Ina nut cracking machineof the 'ro-V tary drum type, coacting pairs ,ofhammer andanvil plungers; carnmeans forjactuat- Y, 111g the hammer plungers ;.means forlperlod anvil plungers including an 4arcuate rack; Y. i

ically krotating the anvil plungers; said Yplungers being slidably mounted 'on the driving means; screw threaded members on the plungers; pivoted latch dogs engage.` lion."i4

able ,withv the Vscrew threadedvv members to advancek they plungers as they'rotate; rand a camv to actuate, the latch dogs i' in proper timed relation.

. v' 14C, In nut cracking machine of the rotarydrum type, lco'actingv pairs of hammer andl anvil' plungers; cam means for actuatV- ing the hammer plungers; shafts extending through the outer ends ofthe plungers and .y

splined thereto; pinions and clutcheson the shafts; an arcuate rack engageablewith the pinions periodically to rotate them; screwv portions on the plungers; latch dogs engageable with the screw portions to advance the plungers; a cam to actuate'tlie latchV dogs in proper timed relation;and a plunger re# Y tractlng cam engageable withthe plungers adjacent toV their outer ends.; f'

izo,"

15. In a nut cracking machine'A Oftheroi tary drum type, coacting pairs of hammer ieu i and anvil plungers; cam means for actuating the hammer plungers; shafts extending through the outer ends of the anvil plungers and splined thereto; pinions and clutches on Ythe shafts; an arcuate rack engageable with the pinions periodically to rotate them; a cam engageable with the plungers to retract them; fiber bumpers on the plungers to strike the cam; springs initially to ads vance the plungers when they are released by the retracting cam; screw-threaded sleeves on the plungers; spring urged, latch dogs engageable with the sleeves to further advance the plungers as they are rotated by the plunger driving mechanism and a cam for actuatingthe latch dogs.

16. In a nut cracking machine of the rotary drum type, a plurality of pairs of coacting hammer and anvil plungers; cam means for operating the hammer plungers; means for periodically rotating the anvil plungers; screw threaded portions on the anvil plungers; and latch dogs engageable with the screw threads to advance the plungers to grip the nuts when the plungers are being rotated. l

17. Inr a nut cracking machine of the rotary drum type, coacting pairs of hammer and anvil plungers; cam means to actuate saidl hammer plungers; said anvil plungers each having a tubular shell; an ejector pin projecting through and non-rotatably mounted in the shell and terminating in a shaft beyond the outer end thereof, a web rotatable with the drum and having a bearj ing for the shaft; a pinion loosely mounted on the shaft; a friction clutch connection between the pinion and said shaft; an arcuate lrack for periodically driving said pinion, a

threaded sleeve fixed onthe tubular shell; a splined connection between the shell and saidV shaft permitting relative sliding movement, an expansible spring on the ejector pin normally urging the plunger inwardly; a fixed cam engageable with the plunger to retract it; pivoted latch .dogs engageable j with the screw threaded sleeve to advance .coacting hammer and anvil the plunger; and a cam for operating the latch dogs, whereby, after the plungers are `released by the retracting cam, they will be advanced bythe latch dogs and the pinions to grip the nuts with uni orm pressure.

18. A nut cracking( machine of the character described comprising, in combination a plurality of pairs of coacting plungers each having a tubular shell; and ejector pins within the plungers; said tubular shells havdust to escape.

KV19.l A nut cracking machine comprising, l

in combination, a support; a fixed shaft on the support; a rotary drum mounted on the shaft; nut receiving pockets in the drum;

plungers projecting into opposite ends `o the pockets and rotatable with the drum; cam means to actuate the hammer plungers; spaced rotatable webs on the shaft carrying the anvil plungers; shafts projecting from the outer ends of the anvil plungers through bearings in the outer one of said webs; pinions on the shafts; an arcuate spring urged rack pivoted to the face of one end support and engageable with the pinions; screw threads on the anvil plungers adjacent to the inner web; spring urged latch dogs pivotally mounted on said inner web; a fixed cam to actuate the latch dogs to advance the hammer plungers so that they will grip the nuts fed in the pockets; a plunger retracting cam fixed on the shaft; and end fianges on the plungers having ring bumpers adapted to cushion the blow of the anvil plungers when they strike the face of the adjacent web while the nut pockets are empty.

20. In a nut cracln'ng machine of the rotary drum type, pairs of hammer and anvil plungers; an adjustable cracking wheel in the path of the hammer plungers to vary the stroke thereof; and adjustable friction clutch driving means for the anvil plungers connected to cause them to grip nuts with uniform pressure before they are fractured by the hammer plungers.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiiXed my signa- 

